Polio survivor, entrepreneur, and mother: Gulrang’s story

BY BRAC INTERNATIONAL

Muqadas Tailoring: That is the name of Gulrang’s* tailoring shop. Loosely translated, Muqadas means holy or sanctified. And for Gulrang, her small shop in Afghanistan’s Balkh province is indeed a sacred place, for it helps her not only care for her family of four, but also employ many other women in her neighbourhood.

But don’t let the Gulrang of today obscure any sense of just how far she had to come.

As a young girl, Gulrang contracted polio and was left with physical disabilities. While cases of polio have seen a 99% decrease in the world since the launch of Global Polio Eradication Initiative, Afghanistan remains one of only two countries, alongside neighbouring Pakistan, where polio has continued to spread. Gulrang happens to be one of many individuals in Afghanistan bearing the burden of poor access to health care.

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However, Gulrang is not one to be bound by her circumstances. She started learning to sew clothes on her mother’s old sewing machine when she was just 17. She kept practicing, and soon she was a pro. She began to sell some of the clothes she made, here and there.

Within three years, Gulrang saved enough money from her sales to purchase a second-hand manual sewing machine. From there, she launched her own tailoring business.

Now, Gulrang could contribute to household expenses. She felt proud to be earning an income. However, it was not enough to fully support her family. Her husband also sold vegetables on a cart in their community, but together, it still was not enough.

Gulrang’s manual sewing machine was out of date, limited in its capacities, and required her to sit on the floor for many hours each day, which was difficult owing to her disability.

“The machine was also quite old and outdated, and I was unable to sew good quality overlock-stitched clothes, which had reduced demand for my clothes in the market,” Gulrang shared.

The machine was also quite old and outdated, and I was unable to sew good quality overlock-stitched clothes, which had reduced demand for my clothes in the market.” -Gulrang

Gulrang was on the hunt for opportunities to upgrade and expand her business. Soon, she was selected as a participant in a BRAC skills training project to help women-owned small businesses.

She participated in training in business management and incubation, along with grant assistance to help invest in her business and cover operational expenses while she got her business off the ground.

With the grant, Gulrang bought an automatic overlock sewing machine, and some raw materials. It took some time, but her business began to grow: Better made clothes meant more sales.

From a small business run on the floor at her home, to a massive shop: Gulrang has since grown her business significantly. Today, she employs 30 other women from her community, who she has trained in sewing and tailoring.

Gulrang’s story reminds us that when you invest in women, the returns go far beyond the individual: They ripple out to her family, community, and the world.

Invest in determined women like Gulrang.

*Gulrang’s name has been changed for privacy.